Arsenal continue their push to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool as they welcome West Ham to the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta’s side riding a strong wave of form despite mounting injury concerns.
A brace from Mikel Merino secured a 2-0 win over Leicester last time out, with the Spanish midfielder stepping up as an emergency striker in the absence of key attacking options. His contribution ensured Arsenal picked up a third successive league victory, maintaining their grip on a top-four spot while extending their unbeaten home league run to 15 matches (W11, D4).
With a string of London derbies ahead, Arsenal will take confidence from their recent dominance over West Ham, having scored 11 goals in their last two meetings with the Hammers. However, injuries continue to disrupt Arteta’s plans, with Kai Havertz the latest long-term casualty following a season-ending hamstring injury.
Since taking charge at West Ham, Graham Potter has faced a difficult start, winning just one of his five Premier League matches while already navigating a heavy run of capital clashes. His tenure so far has included four London derbies, and his team has struggled for consistency (W1, D1, L4 in all competitions).
Despite their recent slump, West Ham maintain a healthy cushion above the relegation zone. However, Potter has been hampered by a series of injuries, particularly in attack, with Niclas Füllkrug, Crysencio Summerville, and Michail Antonio all sidelined for the coming weeks.
The midfield duo of Edson Álvarez and James Ward-Prowse will be crucial in trying to steady the ship, but there is growing frustration among some West Ham fans over the team’s slow progress since Julen Lopetegui’s departure. A single victory in their last seven away games (D2, L4) does not inspire much confidence, though they can take heart from last season’s 2-0 win at the Emirates, which ended an eight-game losing streak away to Arsenal.
Key Players to Watch
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal): The young midfielder has contributed three goal involvements in his last four appearances (G2, A1), with four of his seven strikes this season coming between the 30th and 50th minute.
Tomáš Souček (West Ham): The Czech midfielder opened the scoring in this fixture last season but may find himself in disciplinary trouble this time, having picked up yellow cards in three of his last five matches.
Hot Stat
The last six meetings between these two sides have produced an average of 4.5 goals per game, suggesting another entertaining clash could be on the cards.
With Arsenal’s home dominance and West Ham’s ongoing struggles, the Gunners will be firm favourites to continue their strong run, but Potter’s side will be eager to rediscover their form and repeat last season’s Emirates upset.
